Updated: "Fierce fire" engulfs Marlow Rowing Club (From Bucks Free Press)
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Marlow Rowing Club - made famous by Steve Redgrave - engulfed by fire
9:43am Wednesday 3rd August 2011 in News By Simon Farr
This story was updated at 12.40pm.
FLAMES engulfed Marlow Rowing Club after an “extremely fierce fire” broke out during the early hours of this morning.
The blaze tore through the club made famous by five-time Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave just after 4am, destroying the changing rooms and clubhouse, as well as numerous boats.
The gym, weights room and kitchen area in the adjoining building suffered smoke damage, and club members believe the floor will have to be replaced.
But some of the club’s precious memorabilia, photos and listed World War I memorial have been salvaged from the smoke-blackened and dilapidated building.
In a statement on its website, the club said: “Much of the club building is destroyed or seriously damaged.
“The club is therefore shut until further notice. People with private boats in the affected areas will be contacted separately.
"The club will survive this, and a plan for getting back on the water and rebuilding will follow as soon as we can."
Dozens of club members of all ages flocked to the clubhouse by the Compleat Angler to offer their help to club officials, as news spread of the disaster.
While other members just stood and looked in disbelief at the wreckage by the River Thames.
Olympic bronze-winning medallist and life-member Sarah Winckless was giving a radio interview when the “extremely sad news” broke.
She rushed to the scene to give her support and hailed the local rowing community after numerous clubs offered to lend equipment to the shell-shocked club.
About 55 firefighters from both Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue and Berkshire Fire and Rescue Services raced to the club by Marlow Bridge after the fire broke out.
Five jets and specialist ladder equipment were used, as firefighters desperately tried to save some of the boats from the storage by pulling them on to the river.
Crews are still at the scene damping down the building, and Marlow Bridge was closed to allow the emergency services to work and investigate the cause of the fire.
The blaze is not being treated as suspicious at this time and no-one was injured.
Structural engineers are expected to examine the brick and wood clubhouse later today.
All members of the club, formed in 1871, have been emailed about the news.
John Campbell, who took this dramatic picture, said the fire was a “sad day for Marlow”. His words were echoed by Riley Park Trust chairman Tony Shannon.
And the mother of a rower from the club said her daughter and her friends were “upset and devastated” at the shocking news.
See Friday’s Marlow Free Press for photos, reaction and full-coverage of the rowing club fire.
Comments(62)
Trip
says...
10:04am Wed 3 Aug 11
SteveLS
says...
10:38am Wed 3 Aug 11
Trip
says...
10:41am Wed 3 Aug 11
SteveLS wrote:Most of the boats in the 8's bay and the sculling bay to the left look like write offs, maybe just smoke damage to the ones in the right hand bays.
As a former member who helped build the 'new' roof in 1981/2, it's sad to see. Yes, Redgrave was a member at that time and probably helped lent a hand (but I don't recall). Let's hope his influence, as a Life Member can help summon up the enthusiasm and raise the cash to create an even better clubhouse. I hope the boats are OK? Perhaps the reporter could find out please.
SteveLS
says...
10:50am Wed 3 Aug 11
holly4
says...
12:13pm Wed 3 Aug 11
Slacker
says...
12:14pm Wed 3 Aug 11
SteveLS wrote:Hopefully they will not need to raise cash as it will be covered by insurance?
As a former member who helped build the 'new' roof in 1981/2, it's sad to see. Yes, Redgrave was a member at that time and probably helped lent a hand (but I don't recall). Let's hope his influence, as a Life Member can help summon up the enthusiasm and raise the cash to create an even better clubhouse. I hope the boats are OK? Perhaps the reporter could find out please.
Lets hope the management were not slack and it is covered by buildings and contents.
sparky49
says...
12:25pm Wed 3 Aug 11
oldun
says...
12:43pm Wed 3 Aug 11
miccles
says...
12:54pm Wed 3 Aug 11
oldun wrote:"Its Marlow,", if it had happened at "Southend on Sea", would it be just as devistating??????
Steady on sparky49. Yes the problems in Libya and Somalia are much much much much worse. I am no oarsman but if I were a member of MRC then I would be devastated - let's find that dictionary . Yep, I live in marlow
Boats whether insured or not can be replaced one way or the other, peoples lives cannot.
Im sure its upsetting for the people concerned, but hardly enough for people to be in mourning.
blackie1955
says...
12:55pm Wed 3 Aug 11
Investigation no chance ! too many councillors use the club , Come On !
Danesfield house all over again , how about building a sports facility for those less shall we say fortunate !
Trip
says...
12:57pm Wed 3 Aug 11
sparky49 wrote:Pronunciation:/ˈdɛ
Lets put this into perspective. They are boats, they should be insured, if si no problem the same applys to the building. People are saying they are devastated, for gods sake get out of the Marlow bubble. People are dying in somalia, there is a war going on in Libya as well as else where. Now that is devastaing.
vəsteɪt/
verb
*
1 destroy or ruin:the city was devastated by a huge earthquake
*
2 cause (someone) severe and overwhelming shock or grief:she was devastated by the loss of Damian
.
Both accurate descriptions for this situation. You have no idea how much hard work people have put into this club over the years, and now they are back to square one. Boats and buildings can be replaced, but it will take a long time. I hope the members find somewhere else to train so the club can continue it's tradition of producing junior internationals, there are some very promising rowers there at the moment.
gotanybiscuits?
says...
1:23pm Wed 3 Aug 11
sparky49 wrote:Shame nobody made a comment like this on any of the football/stadium/foo
Lets put this into perspective. They are boats, they should be insured, if si no problem the same applys to the building. People are saying they are devastated, for gods sake get out of the Marlow bubble. People are dying in somalia, there is a war going on in Libya as well as else where. Now that is devastaing.
tball/sports centre/football/rugb
y/football we've been drowning in lately.
Remember the "legendary" footballers(!!!), & the "iconic" stadium that was going to be somebodys "legacy".
.
I've only just stopped laughing.
.
It's a shame it took this to get the rowing club onto the front page.
I wish them well.
Goldenone75
says...
1:48pm Wed 3 Aug 11
blackie1955
says...
1:51pm Wed 3 Aug 11
blackie1955
says...
1:53pm Wed 3 Aug 11
Goldenone75 wrote:inevitable I am afraid .
I would hate to see some luxury flats just appear there after this accidental fire....
blackie1955
says...
1:54pm Wed 3 Aug 11
Trip wrote:shame
SteveLS wrote: As a former member who helped build the 'new' roof in 1981/2, it's sad to see. Yes, Redgrave was a member at that time and probably helped lent a hand (but I don't recall). Let's hope his influence, as a Life Member can help summon up the enthusiasm and raise the cash to create an even better clubhouse. I hope the boats are OK? Perhaps the reporter could find out please.Most of the boats in the 8's bay and the sculling bay to the left look like write offs, maybe just smoke damage to the ones in the right hand bays.
dr death
says...
2:02pm Wed 3 Aug 11
Trip
says...
2:05pm Wed 3 Aug 11
blackie1955 wrote:Of course because rowing is an elitest sport only open to the upper middle class?
There are too many people in Marlow with too much money , lets call this one in the eye for them . I am sure daddy will build them a new one !
.
Full yearly membership for an adult is ~£300, for a junior it's around half that. Not many sports you can do for cheaper where lots of equipment is involved.
Trip
says...
2:07pm Wed 3 Aug 11
Goldenone75 wrote:That would be a shame, but as the rowing club doesn't own the land they are on, it wouldn't benefit them much now would it?
I would hate to see some luxury flats just appear there after this accidental fire....
oldun
says...
2:08pm Wed 3 Aug 11
SteveLS
says...
2:24pm Wed 3 Aug 11
blackie1955 wrote:Blackie - you are making silly statements here. There happens to be more people in Marlow that dont have wealth than those that do! This is a sports club and happens to be a good one where good manners mean as much as athletics. Sir Steve Redgrave is an example. I was another. Bigoted views work both ways and your ignorance is obvious. I'll leave it there.
There are too many people in Marlow with too much money , lets call this one in the eye for them . I am sure daddy will build them a new one !
Anna Smith
says...
2:28pm Wed 3 Aug 11
And as for those commenting on the people of Marlow with too much money.......a lot of the members of MRC do not live in Marlow!
TheHorsesMouth
says...
2:29pm Wed 3 Aug 11
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Hope it all gets sorted soon and the rowers get back to their sport.
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Looks like Longridge will be busy with not just the Borlaise and Great Marlow Schools,...great sport.
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Put my foot through the wall at MRC (by accident) during a circuits class many years ago. Just plasterboard partition walls,...not very substantially built, so I'm surprised most of it is still standing.
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All the best MRC,...
TheHorsesMouth
says...
2:40pm Wed 3 Aug 11
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If you look at the membership details
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http://www.marlowrow
ingclub.org.uk/safet
y/circulation/24-eve
ntsrowing/all/26-mem
bership
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you'll see the cost of rowing is cheaper than most gyms and and for juniors (£50) is extremely good value for money!
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You don't have to go to a regatta, where a boater or have a spoon in your mouth when you talk.
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You do have to have manners,...or it's just not Cricket. We'll done the Indian team btw with their sporting conduct,...oh and letting us win :-)
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blackie1955
says...
3:08pm Wed 3 Aug 11
Trip wrote:exactly only open to those in the know , I do not see any recruitment drives in the poorer parts of High Wycombe ?
blackie1955 wrote: There are too many people in Marlow with too much money , lets call this one in the eye for them . I am sure daddy will build them a new one !Of course because rowing is an elitest sport only open to the upper middle class? . Full yearly membership for an adult is ~£300, for a junior it's around half that. Not many sports you can do for cheaper where lots of equipment is involved.
blackie1955
says...
3:11pm Wed 3 Aug 11
oldun wrote:smug , you or me ?
"There are too many people in Marlow with too much money , lets call this one in the eye for them . I am sure daddy will build them a new one ! " says blackie1955 - I find it depressing that he/she seems so bitter. Yes, Marlow is a very affluent town but many of those rowers are not hooray Henries (plural?). You play into the hands of the smug ones, Blackie. Bad move
blackie1955
says...
3:19pm Wed 3 Aug 11
SteveLS wrote:Oh really steveLS and are they those who frequent such an elitist club ?
blackie1955 wrote: There are too many people in Marlow with too much money , lets call this one in the eye for them . I am sure daddy will build them a new one !Blackie - you are making silly statements here. There happens to be more people in Marlow that dont have wealth than those that do! This is a sports club and happens to be a good one where good manners mean as much as athletics. Sir Steve Redgrave is an example. I was another. Bigoted views work both ways and your ignorance is obvious. I'll leave it there.
blackie1955
says...
3:22pm Wed 3 Aug 11
Trip
says...
3:25pm Wed 3 Aug 11
blackie1955 wrote:And what sort of recruitment drive do you expect a club made entirely of volunteers who also work full-time jobs to do? They try their best to encourage as many new members as possible.
Trip wrote:exactly only open to those in the know , I do not see any recruitment drives in the poorer parts of High Wycombe ?
blackie1955 wrote: There are too many people in Marlow with too much money , lets call this one in the eye for them . I am sure daddy will build them a new one !Of course because rowing is an elitest sport only open to the upper middle class? . Full yearly membership for an adult is ~£300, for a junior it's around half that. Not many sports you can do for cheaper where lots of equipment is involved.
TheHorsesMouth
says...
3:26pm Wed 3 Aug 11
blackie1955 wrote:@Blackie1955: not sure MRC necessarily needs to run recruitment campaigns, it is clearly visible from the road, bridge or other side of the river to a lot of passing traffic.
Trip wrote:exactly only open to those in the know , I do not see any recruitment drives in the poorer parts of High Wycombe ?
blackie1955 wrote: There are too many people in Marlow with too much money , lets call this one in the eye for them . I am sure daddy will build them a new one !Of course because rowing is an elitest sport only open to the upper middle class? . Full yearly membership for an adult is ~£300, for a junior it's around half that. Not many sports you can do for cheaper where lots of equipment is involved.
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There are no barriers to entry except your obvious pre-conceptions. As I said I'm sure MRC would like to help you in this respect. RESPECT, get it?
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Are you anything to do with Livingstreams or Ambassador-line?
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TheHorsesMouth
says...
3:28pm Wed 3 Aug 11
blackie1955
says...
3:37pm Wed 3 Aug 11
Anna Smith wrote:Why houses too small ?
Very sad news! And as for those commenting on the people of Marlow with too much money.......a lot of the members of MRC do not live in Marlow!
Charochris
says...
3:39pm Wed 3 Aug 11
Blackie1955, quite a number of the members at the club do not live in Marlow and those that do (the ones I know) are not wealthy by any stretch on the imagination. If you had ever walked into that club, you would have been struck by how plain it was and by the limited facilities that it had. I was. People row there because they love the sport. To generalise based on where people live would be akin to generalising about, for example, all Welsh people because they live in Wales. Or all Muslims, if we consider the common factor to be religion rather than place of abode.
Dr Death, are you acquainted with Steve Redgrave? I don’t know the man and surely I would not be able to comment on whether he could or would contribute to the rebuilding of the club. I would prefer to judge the man on his actions.
What you say and do often reveals far more about yourself than it does about your intended target.
oldun
says...
3:41pm Wed 3 Aug 11
TheHorsesMouth
says...
3:43pm Wed 3 Aug 11
jayeatman
says...
3:47pm Wed 3 Aug 11
A Because (s)he has a chip on both shoulders.
How can one person be so ignorant and bigoted at the same time?
Just to set the record straight:
1.Arson has already been ruled out. 2.To infer that the club did it for gain is libellous. 3. AFAIK Marlow RC has never made any planning applications. 4. Marlow RC does not own the land. 5. Marlow RC is not full of rich toffs. Sure rowing has Henley, the Boat Race and a few public schools, but Marlow RC is as far removed from that as Marlow FC is from Chelsea.
blackie1955
says...
4:08pm Wed 3 Aug 11
So how many Marlow Rowers live in council accomadation ?
It is an elitest club , and it is time for change , end of story ! x
Kayleigh88
says...
4:09pm Wed 3 Aug 11
blackie1955 wrote:Actually most of the people who row at the rowing club are pupils from Great Marlow School who get to use the facilities for free. I know quite a few people who go there and they aren't rich at all but pay the fees because it's the best facilities they can get. Just because we live in Marlow doesn't mean we all have 'Daddy' to pay for everything, most of us make our own money like we've been brought up to. A little bitter are we?
There are too many people in Marlow with too much money , lets call this one in the eye for them . I am sure daddy will build them a new one !
jayeatman
says...
4:16pm Wed 3 Aug 11
TheHorsesMouth wrote:agreed. we should avoid feeding trolls
I think Blackie1955 is just a wind up merchant,...
andy40
says...
4:29pm Wed 3 Aug 11
Rowing is open to anyone who can be bothered to get off their bum and investigate what opportunities are available in the area rather than wait for someone else to do the hard work for them.
TheHorsesMouth
says...
4:57pm Wed 3 Aug 11
jayeatman wrote:Yeap and Trolls live under bridges! Wait a minute, the MRC clubhouse is next to a bridge!
TheHorsesMouth wrote:agreed. we should avoid feeding trolls
I think Blackie1955 is just a wind up merchant,...
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For clarity I am not implying that Blackie1955 had anything to do with the fire at MRC.
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TheHorsesMouth
says...
5:09pm Wed 3 Aug 11
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You know a lot of large towns are near water sources and many of those are navigable rivers or lakes, so many of these towns or cities have rowing clubs and teams.
Most real estate and/or farmland next to water sources are normally by their nature prime real estate and cost more per acre.
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It is therefore re-assuring that the rowing clubs up and down the country, that have grown up in these places are open to all, have competitive membership prices and are often heavily integrated with the local schools.
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You need to be able to swim in order to row, but this is not elitist, neither is MRC.
TheHorsesMouth
says...
5:12pm Wed 3 Aug 11
andy40 wrote:Well said.
@Blackie1955 We live in Wycombe and my son rows. We are not wealthy but would rather pay the fees for him to engage in an outdoor pursuit for a couple of hours a day 2 or 3 times a week than buy him an x-box/ps3/ds or other games console.
Rowing is open to anyone who can be bothered to get off their bum and investigate what opportunities are available in the area rather than wait for someone else to do the hard work for them.
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Hmmm,..note to self about xbox and waistline!
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Or perhaps that should be computer and waistline!
The Drone
says...
5:24pm Wed 3 Aug 11
andy40 wrote:Andy 40 said:-
@Blackie1955 We live in Wycombe and my son rows. We are not wealthy but would rather pay the fees for him to engage in an outdoor pursuit for a couple of hours a day 2 or 3 times a week than buy him an x-box/ps3/ds or other games console.
Rowing is open to anyone who can be bothered to get off their bum and investigate what opportunities are available in the area rather than wait for someone else to do the hard work for them.
''Rowing is open to anyone who can be bothered to get off their bum and investigate what opportunities are available in the area''.
I can't believe you said that.
I hope the club coaches insist that the rower keeps his bum firmly in the seat, just rows as instructed, and lets the cox do all the looking around for opportunities.
If not, its time to upgrade to another
riverside town.
J B Blackett
says...
6:00pm Wed 3 Aug 11
blackie1955 wrote:I would just like to remark that my son was a member at MRC and he is/was a Wycombe lad definitely not from a posh or moneyed area.
Trip wrote:exactly only open to those in the know , I do not see any recruitment drives in the poorer parts of High Wycombe ?
blackie1955 wrote: There are too many people in Marlow with too much money , lets call this one in the eye for them . I am sure daddy will build them a new one !Of course because rowing is an elitest sport only open to the upper middle class? . Full yearly membership for an adult is ~£300, for a junior it's around half that. Not many sports you can do for cheaper where lots of equipment is involved.
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It was one of the sports that he could afford as a youth and a young man - he lived in Wycombe then moved to Slough but still kept the sport up whilst living there.
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Rowing is a hard task master and only rewards those who put a lot of time and effort into it. There is no short cut but a lots of sweat and dedication.
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Some of the remarks by other people on here seem to show total ignorance of rowing and about MRC in particular, absolute bigotry, uncalled for snideyness , perverse pleasure in the distress of others , inverted snobbery of the worst kind , blatant nastiness and unnecessary rudeness. All the worst characteristics of the English culture.
.
Apart from that .......
welsh184
says...
7:17pm Wed 3 Aug 11
Coming from a less-than-affluent working class background in South Wales, I certainly wouldn't describe myself as one of the silver spoon beneficiaries as so inaccurately stereotyped by certain members of this discussion and I certainly haven't come across any in my time at the club.
I joined MRC as I passed it every day on my way to work (through Marlow, I do not live there) and thought it looked like a great sport to take up, and as a new resident of the area, a great way to meet new people.
As an avid sports fan and member of various clubs and societies, I can definitively say that MRC is one of the most friendly, open and inclusive clubs that I have ever been part of. Rowing is
a great sport for improving your fitness, meeting new people, and enjoying the natural environment, and with membership less than the local gyms then why wouldn't I?
Perhaps you should give it a try!?
oldun
says...
7:24pm Wed 3 Aug 11
redspellsdanger
says...
9:04pm Wed 3 Aug 11
blackie1955 wrote:How really sad you must be and you clearly have no knowledge of the Club, even though you claim to live in Marlow. Many club members are ordinary local people and youngsters who attend Great Marlow School (excellent, but hardly elitist). Indeed Steve Redgrave was a student there.
libellous , really ?
So how many Marlow Rowers live in council accomadation ?
It is an elitest club , and it is time for change , end of story ! x
If you think Marlow is elitist, why do you live there and enjoy the benefits of the excellent riverside town. I bet you walk in the park and watch the rowing.
You are so sad!
redspellsdanger
says...
9:06pm Wed 3 Aug 11
Mr Totterdge Hill
says...
12:36am Thu 4 Aug 11
A building has been very damaged by fire... and then the rest wade in with comments about an elitist sport...
I know a lass that has put in the hours for selection and missed out.
Yah BOO! to the rest that think she failed, she put in the early and long hours but never made the cut.
But this story IS about a fire...
I can't wait to find out the cause...
Moi
SteveLS
says...
12:51am Thu 4 Aug 11
Sam Mushin
says...
10:24am Thu 4 Aug 11
blackie1955 wrote:I've just realised that my ju-jitsu club is also elitest! One of our training nights is in Marlow, and we don't do 'recruitement drives' (whatever that entails) in 'poor areas' (wherever they are).
Trip wrote:exactly only open to those in the know , I do not see any recruitment drives in the poorer parts of High Wycombe ?blackie1955 wrote: There are too many people in Marlow with too much money , lets call this one in the eye for them . I am sure daddy will build them a new one !Of course because rowing is an elitest sport only open to the upper middle class? . Full yearly membership for an adult is ~£300, for a junior it's around half that. Not many sports you can do for cheaper where lots of equipment is involved.
Actually most new students heard about us from friends, or because they were searching for a club like ours on the internet and found our website. I'm guessing that anyone can google 'Bucks' and 'Rowing' and come up with MRC, and that you won't even be asked for your annual income before entering the site...
sparky49
says...
10:58am Thu 4 Aug 11
oldun
says...
11:11am Thu 4 Aug 11
TheHorsesMouth
says...
2:18pm Thu 4 Aug 11
sparky49 wrote:Recommendation time:
Guys Just checked Blackies postcode next to his/her name. It is one of the big houses next to westside fruiters and opposite claymoor park the old officers quarters from RAF Booker. Looks like a house that CAN afford rowing. Really dumb to do that (if it is correct) I suspect not, just someone on a wind up to make a story juicy, probably a BFP Journo.
(NB: Yes I know these won't be relevant to the article, but rather the comments thread perhaps)
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Think these comments sections should insure that all Alias' from the same person are linked a bit like ebay
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Journalists leaving comments should be considered a bit like phone hacking and outlawed (Does that apply to Ivor?)
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Happy to have a £1 administration charge to pay for a yearly Alias (i.e. ability to place comments) such that duplicates can be identified. Only concern her is that this would exclude most teenagers who do not have credit/debit cards,...good or bad thing, you decide!
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Jury is out on whether a postcode should be mandatory, but definitely a location (and I don't mean "Ye olde Sexe Shope",..sorry Lawrence!)
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Like to see how many posts people have made across the site
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like to see when the Alias was first registered
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like to view an Alias' posts on other threads
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Really doing all this to get rid of Trolls and the like, clean up the environment and have sensible comments
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Is that too much to ask?
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This one is of Blackie1955,...secur
ity word "rich-hill"
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TheHorsesMouth
says...
2:26pm Thu 4 Aug 11
sparky49 wrote:@Spark49: Funny that when I asked Blackie1955 whether he/she was anything to do with Livingstreams, Ambassador-line, Westside Fruiters or Booker Squash Club; he/she stopped posting.
Guys Just checked Blackies postcode next to his/her name. It is one of the big houses next to westside fruiters and opposite claymoor park the old officers quarters from RAF Booker. Looks like a house that CAN afford rowing. Really dumb to do that (if it is correct) I suspect not, just someone on a wind up to make a story juicy, probably a BFP Journo.
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BTW, Blackie1955's postcode shows sl7 3dj. If you use google maps these four companies show as having the same postcode (i.e. sl7 3dj).
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To clarify, I am not inferring that the views expressed by Blackie1955 are in away way the views of those four companies; simply that their postcodes are the same.
blackie1955
says...
4:01pm Thu 4 Aug 11
All i can say is I would expect nothing less of these upper class individuals trying to bully me or others of a lesser class .
Get a life and stop taking , it is good to give and I do not mean in the dressing room ?
oldun
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4:22pm Thu 4 Aug 11
jayeatman
says...
4:24pm Thu 4 Aug 11
loulou6
says...
7:32pm Thu 4 Aug 11
Seriously though, this club is about a town and developing kids whether they go on to be Olympians or not...they all have to get out of bed at the crack of dawn and resist the XBox to achieve...and they do, whatever their backgrounds. And all that they achieve is only possible because of the unstinting support of volunteer coaches.
If anyone has ever enjoyed Marlow Regatta, get out there and support this amazing club and community
bugsy351
says...
6:13am Mon 8 Aug 11
Mr Totterdge Hill says...
10:04am Wed 3 Aug 11